Test tube holder



June 13, 1939. H SHILLER 2,162,127

TEST TUBE HOLDER Filed Sept. 29, 1938 Patented June 13, 1939 PATENTOFFICE TEST TUBE HOLDER Hymen Shiller, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 29, 1938, Serial No. 232,374

6 Claims.

This invention relates to test tube holders, especially such holders asare adapted for use in manipulating a test tube over a flame or otherheating means for heating the Vcontents of the tube.

In making certain tests it is necessary to heat liquids in a test tube,frequently to the boiling point. Care must be taken to prevent anexcessive heating or rate of heating, for otherwise the contents of thetube may reach the boiling point unexpectedly and be violently ejectedfrom the tube. Such ejecting of the liquid results not only in the lossof the contents of the tube, but also may cause the boiling liquid tospill on the hands or even the face of the operator. Frequently thecontents of the tube are ejected so violently as tospatter the walls andceiling of the room. When the test is being performed by an unskilledoperator the danger of such accidents is particularly great. Such testsmust be made frequently in the home by unskilled people as, forinstance, in making a test for the presence of sugar in the urine in thecase of a diabetic. It is an object of the present invention to providea test tube holder which may be used to hold and manipulate a test tubeover an open flame or other heating means and which will positivelyprevent injury to the operator or damage to the room in the event thatthe contents of the tube are violently ejected. This result isaccomplished, in the embodiment of the invention here illustrated, byproviding a shield which extends over the top of the test tube but issufliciently spaced therefrom to permit the free rapid ejection of thecontents of the tube, should the contents be forced outwardly by theheat or other causes. The shield prevents spattering on the walls orceiling of the room, or upon the hands or face of the operator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a test tubeholder which shall be reliable in its operation and simple andeconomical in construction.

The attainment of the above Aand further objects of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a test tube holder embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof showing the position of a test tube indotted lines;

Figure 3 is a bottom View of the holder; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

The test tube holder, indicated in general by the reference numeral I,comprises two flat metal springs 2 3, which are riveted together at oneend by a rivet 4, and are adapted to be spread apart at their oppositeend for receiving and holding a test tube 5. To facilitate holdingof thetest tube the spring members 2 3 are ea-ch provided with a jaw 1 8. Thetwo jaws '1 8 are adapted to be spread apart so that a test tube may beinserted between the jaws. Upon release of the jaws, they spring backand rmly grip the tube. A bead I0 at the top of the test tube rests onthe springs 2 3, thereby supporting the tube against downwardretraction.

A metal strap I3 embraces the flat spring members 2 3 and is slidablealong the spring members. By sliding the strap I3 towards the jaws 1 8the at spring members 2 3 are drawn *Q0 position illustrated in Figures2 and 3 and the jaws spread apart manually, thereby permitting the freewithdrawal of the tube between the jaws.

A shield I5 is pivoted to the flat spring metal members 2 3 by the rivet4, so that the shield may be swung about the rivet 4 with respect to thespring metal members 2 3. The shield I5 includes a handle portion I6 anda cover shield member I1 which extends over the top of the test tube butis suciently spaced therefrom to permit the free egress of the contentsof the tube should they suddenly commence to boil violently. The coverIT is joined with the handle portion I6 by a vertical part I8. Thehandle portion I 6 is generally U-shaped in cross section, as may beseen from Figure 4. The arms I9 and 20 of the U- shaped handle portionloosely embrace the iiat spring members 3 4. The handle portion I6 is ofa minimum width adjacent the rivet 4 where the arms I9 20 are flatagainst and press upon the spring members 3 4, and gradually tapers to amaximum width adjacent the vertical part I8. The entire shield member I5may consist of a piece of sheet metal bent to the requisite shape.

The rivet 4 causes the sides 22 of the handle portion l5 to exert asmall amount of pressure against the springs 2 3 so that the frictionbetween the sides and the flat spring members 2 3 is suflicient to holdthe handle and the spring in their relatively adjusted positions. Thetest tube holder may then be held by means of the handle I5 by causingthe hand to embrace the handle and the spring members 2-3, or by merelygripping the sides IS-ZII of the handle with the thumbI and two adjacentfingers. The test tube is thus held in position and may be manipulatedover an open flame with safety. If the contents of the tube should beviolently ejected, the cover I1 willY prevent splashing of the contentsof thetube against thewall or ceiling of the room, and together thevertical portion I8 and the sides I9-2II of the handle portion willeffectivelyY prevent spattering of the boiling contents oi the tubeagainst the hands or face of the operator. i

' It is to be noted that the cover I1 is inclined downwardly at a slightangle. This, together with the curvature of the cover, helps to preventspattering of the contents thereof sideways. The ver- Vtical portion I8affords greater protection against spattering of the contents rearwardlytowards the hand of the operator holding the test tube holder. It isthus apparent thatjif the contents of the tube should be' violentlyejected there is no danger to the operator andno possibility of thecontents spattering .against the vwallsior ceiling of Athe room.

In compliance with the vrequirements of the patent statutes I have hereshown and'described a preferredembodinent'of my invention. Itis,however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to theprecise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative ofthe principles of the invention. What Iconsider new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:V 1.. In combination, means for releasably holdinga test tube for .manipulation over a llame, and a shield Yextending.overlthe top of* the tube but spaced therefrom" t'ofpermit the'freeegress oi `vapors fromthe tube. Y

2. In combination, meansfor releasably holding a test tube formanipulation over a flame, and a shield extending over the top of thetube but spaced therefrom to permit the freeegres's of vapors from thetube, said tube holding means and Ysaid shield being hinged together.

-3. Test tube holding and manipulating means comprising.a.pair of jawsadapted to embrace the top of a test tube and exerta spring pressurethereagainst and including" a portion extending tat right angles to thelongitudinalaxis of the tube, a shieldVY over the top vof the tube,said. shield including an arm extending to the end of vsaid jaw portionremote nfrom the jaws, means pivotally joining said arm to said portionto permit changing of the distance between the shield and the jaws, saidshield being held in Ya position `spaced from the top of ra test tube topermit free egress of vapors from the tube.

4. Test tube holding and manipulating means comprising a pair ofjuxtaposed flat spring metal members having cooperating jaws at one endadapted to be spread apart to embrace and hold a test tube, said springmembers being secured together at their opposite ends, a shield memberincluding a portion nestled with said spring members at said oppositeend and pivotally joined thereto, said shield member extending abovetheA jaws an amount suiicient to space it from the top of a test tubeheld by the jaws and being held Vin place by the frictional engagementof the relatively movable parts.

5. Test tube holding and manipulating means comprising a pair ofjuxtaposed at spring metal members having cooperating jaws Yat one endadapted to be spread apart to embrace and hold a test tube, said springmembers being secured together at their opposite ends, a shield memberincluding a portion nestled with said spring members at said oppositeend and pivotally joined thereto, said shield member extending above thejaws an ."amount su'icient to space it from the top of a test tube heldby the jaws and being held in place by the frictional engagement of therelatively movable parts, said shield member including 'a portionembracing the sides ofthe spring metal members and also overlying thetop thereof, and said spring metal kmembers including a strap movablealong the members and limiting the spreading of the vmembers for causingthe spring metal members to exert the requisite spring pressure againstVa test tube.

'Y 6. Test tube holding and manipulating means comprising a pair ofjuxtaposed at spring metal members having cooperating jaws at one endadapted Vto lbe spread'apart to embrace and hold a test tube, saidspringY members being secured together at their opposite ends, a shieldmember including a portion nestled with said spring members at saidopposite end and pivotally joined afidontwtng a head1@ for holding theentre structure and manipulating the same, said handle extending tothe'portion of the shield member"A thatoverlies the top oi a'testtubeand merging therewith as a continuous shieldefor preventingV theejected contents ciV the tube from reaching anyportion of the top orouter sides of the handle. v,

Y HYMEN SHILnErt.

